Firefighters battling 18 blazes in the Northwest face another hot, dry day with strong winds whipping up in the afternoon.

"The weather is giving us a bit of a break with no lightning in the forecast," said Tom Knappenberger, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. "But there are winds in the afternoon so the existing fires are being tested a bit."

Another burst of lightning is forecast for Sunday night and Monday, which will likely ignite more blazes in a region that already is a national priority. The Northwest has been at a Preparedness Level 5 -- the top tier -- since July 18. The last time the region was at Level 5 was in 2006, Knappenberger said.

Nearly 415,000 acres are burning in Oregon and Washington, with about 4,000 firefighters and support personnel assigned to the blazes.

In Oregon, the top concern is the Rowena fire outside The Dalles, where 149 households are under an evacuation order. Crews are focusing on the northern flank.